Friday, June 8, 2012

Guest Blogging and Poetry

Lately I've been doing quite a bit of freelance writing. It's meant a lot of flipping around in my dictionary and thesaurus, obtaining a legal copy of MS Word, not to mention a lot of crazy hours. I'm always looking for new ways to keep entertained (31 Ways to Waste Time in May, anyone?) and alert while waiting for replies from clients and one of my favorites that I didn't mention last month is googling yourself.

Wow, that sounds like something really dirty out of context, doesn't it? This morning when I googled myself, imagine my excitement (oh stop already) when I found work I'd written, published online! There were others, but due to NDA constraints these two are the only ones I can share.

And while I'm celebrating "Pat Yourself on the Back Day", check this out. About a year before I began freelance writing, I was named runner-up in an Anne of Green Gables poetry contest - it's one of my all-time favorite books and movies! Here's a copy of the poem, and a picture of the happy couple for whom it's written.


Woe was Anne, the poor orphaned lass
Whose only friend was seen in glass;

…'Til off to school in Avonlea
With Diana sharing her glee.

A bit of mischief during lunch
Annoyed the teacher quite a bunch.

No matter how she tried to writhe,
She got stuck with old Gilbert Blythe.

That first day in the one room school
This boy shattered Anne's golden rule.

By saying "carrots" Gilbert waged
An act that left poor Anne outraged.

Like ravens' wings, his locks so dark,
Only compounded his remark.

Anne, upset like an apple cart,
Cared not he wished to win her heart.

She grabbed her slate and held it high
Then slammed him with an angry cry.

From there on out he had no chance –
Not even at winter dance.

Aloof as an ancient boulder,
Anne’s reply was a cold shoulder.

She ignored his stolen glances
And brushed off his slight advances.

(Had he only called Anne "cherry"
Childhood might have been more merry.)

Sometime after Matthew's passing
Gilbert ceased childish harassing.

Years passed by, and time found the pair
Upon the bridge, just standing there.

Gilbert looked at her in wonder
Pondering his age-old blunder.

She returned his gaze. Hers was flushed
And her chatter for once was hushed.

It seemed the boy who once risked ire
Was now someone to be admired.

With a gesture so soft and meek
He reached out and caressed her cheek.

She rewarded with a soft smile
That forgave any youthful wile.

Before she could think otherwise
Or have any chance to chastise,

Risking further mum demerits
Gilbert grinned and whispered, "Carrots."